Dali Transportation: Getting to & around Nearby Cities and Attractions

When planning the Dali tour, transportation is a top concern for most travelers. To get to Dali, both plane and high-speed train are available. To travel around the city, taxis and ride-hailing cars are the most convenient ways for international travelers. Besides, private car, public bus and bike are also important complementary options.

Discover the detailed information about the above transportation options in this guide, as well as how to get to nearby cities.

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• How to Get to Dali
• How to Get around Dali
• Transportation to Nearby Cities
• How to Plan a Dali Trip
• Travel with China Xian Tour
• FAQs

How to Get to Dali

By Air

Dali Fengyi Airport is the only airport in Dali. It is about 13 kilometers (8 miles) from the city center (Xiaguan District) and about 30 km from Dali Old Town. It offers flights to and from many major Chinese cities.

If you’re already in China and your current city is far from Dali, you may consider taking a direct flight.

If you are traveling to Yunnan directly from your home country, the best option may be to fly into Kunming Changshui International Airport first, which operates more international flights. Then take a high-speed train to Dali. This is also the most popular way to get to Dali.

Here’re the flight durations from some major cities:

• Shanghai – 4 hours and 45 minutes
• Beijing – 4 hours
• Guangzhou – 3 hours and 10 minutes
• Shenzhen – 2 hours and 45 minutes
• Xi’an – 2 hours and 30 minutes
• Chengdu – 1 hour and 45 minutes

Dali Airport Transportation

• Airport shuttle bus: There are direct shuttle bus services to both the city center and Dali Old Town. Usually, it runs according to the incoming flight schedule or departs when full. You can take it at the parking lot opposite the exit of the arrival hall.

To city center: CNY 15/USD 2, about 40 – 45 minutes

To Dali Old Town: CNY 25/USD 4, about 1 – 1.5 hours

• Taxi/online ride-hailing: If you have problems with navigation, you may also take a taxi to your destination from the airport.The taxi stand is behind the airport bus parking lot and the ride-hailing pick-up point is about 100 meters to the right of the arrival hall exit. Generally, the cost of a single ride to Dali Old Town is about CNY 90 – 130/USD 13 – 19.

By Train

Dali Railway Station is the only train station in Dali. It is located at city center and is about 15 km from the Dali Old Town. Now, it runs dense trains to most major cities in China, such as Kunming, Chongqing, etc.

Tourists already in China, especially in the nearby cities like Kunming and Lijiang, can take a high-speed train directly to Dali Railway Station, which is a fast and comfortable option.

Here’re the high-speed train durations from some major cities:

• Kunming – 2 – 3 hours
• Lijiang – 2 hours
• Shangri-La  – 3 hours
• Guilin – 9 hours
• Chongqing – 7 hours
• Guiyang – 5 hours

Dali Train Station Transportation

• Tourist direct shuttle bus: This is an official direct shuttle bus to Dali Old Town. It departs about every 15 minutes. The ticket price is CNY 5/USD 1 and the travel time is about 40 minutes.
• Public bus: Bus lines 4 and 8 are available and transport passengers to the east gate and west gate of Dali Old Town, respectively. With a cost of CNY 3/USD 1, taking the bus is the most cost-effective way. But it takes a longer time, about 50 – 70 minutes, due to more stops along the way.
• Taxi/online ride-hailing: Providing door-to-door service, taxis are the most hassle-free option. For first timers and tourists who carry heavy luggage, it is an ideal option. But it is relatively expensive. A single ride to Dali Old Town is about CNY 40 – 60/USD 6 – 9.

How to Get around Dali

Common Transportation Options

Transportation within Dali is very straightforward. Major modes of Dali transportation include taxis, chartered cars, buses, bikes, and cruises. There is no metro service in the city yet.

Taxi/Ride-hailing Service

Taxis are the most convenient and efficient option to travel around, especially for first timers who are not familiar with the city and are not good at navigating.

To book a ride-hailing car, Didi is the most widely used app in China. And it is friendly to international travelers. You can register with your own international mobile phone number, switch the interface into English and bind the international credit card.

However, fares may be higher, and traffic might cause delay depending on the time of the day and year.

Route	Travel Time	Cost
Dali Ancient Town – Caicun Wharf	8 – 12 min	CNY 12 – 20/USD 2 – 3
Dali Ancient Town – Cangshan	10 – 15 min	CNY 15 – 30/USD 2 – 4
Dali Ancient Town – Xizhou Ancient Town	30 – 40 min	CNY 45 – 70/USD 7 – 10

Tip: Motor vehicles are not allowed inside Dali Old Town, so you need to take a taxi or use a ride-hailing service from one of the gates.

Public Bus + Mini Bus

The city’s bus system, including both public buses and mini buses, covers most attractions and transportation hubs. With a cost of CNY 2 – 10/USD 1 – 2, it’s a budget-friendly way to get around most places in the city. Public buses mainly cover the scenic areas inside the city, such as Dali Old Town, Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain.

If you are traveling to attractions that are relatively far away, like Xizhou Ancient Town and Zhoucheng Village, mini buses can take you there. However, the system may not be so easy to figure out for first timers.

Here are the major bus lines:

• Bus lines 4 and 8: connect Dali Train Station and Dali Old Town.
• Bus line C2: connects Dali Old Town and the Caicun Wharf on the west shore of Erhai Lake
• Mini bus to Xizhou and Zhoucheng: You can wait for the mini bus to Eryuan or Shuanglang at the Wanxin Parking Lot near the West Gate of Dali Old Town and get off at Xizhou Ancient Town. Usually, it departs every 15 – 20 minutes during the day and the ticket costs CNY 7 – 10/USD 1 – 2.

Private Car

For family travelers and tourists planning a day trip to further attractions, such as Shaxi Ancient Town and Shuanglang, private car is the most convenient way, as it involves no transfers. There is no need to plan the route by yourself, just sit back and enjoy the trip. It usually charges CNY 300 – 600/USD 44 – 88 per day. It is very cost-effective for a group of 3 to 4 people.

Shared Bikes/E-Bikes

Cycling is the most popular way to explore the West-Shore Ecological Corridor of Erhai Lake. You can rent either an ordinary bike or an e-bike inside the scenic area and cycle along the lake to discover Caicun Wharf, Longkan Wharf and Panxi S-Bend. The daily cost varies from CNY 20 – 90/USD 3 – 13 based on the types of bike.

Cruise Erhai Lake

This is a special experience to appreciate the scenery from a different perspective. Dali Port, Longkan Port and Shuanglang Port all operate different cruise routes. The ticket for a regular cruise ship is CNY 70 +/USD 10+ and the duration is about 3 hours. Usually, there is a three-course tea ceremony and a dance and song performance on board.

How to Get to Popular Attractions

Get to Dali Ancient Town

• From airport: If you get to Dali by plane, the airport offers shuttle bus and taxi services to Dali Ancient Town.
• From train station:Tourist direct shuttle bus, bus lines 4 and 8, and taxis all are available to get to the ancient town.
• From the city center:It is easily connected to other attractions by bus lines 4 and 8, and taxis.

Get to Erhai Lake

Around Erhai Lake, Caicun Wharf, Longkan Wharf and Panxi S Bend are the three most popular destinations. Here are the recommended ways to get to the three scenic spots.

• From airport:Taxi and online ride-hailing car are the most recommended and efficient ways. Based on the different destinations, you will spend 40 – 60 minutes and CNY 50 – 100/USD 7 – 15. Another economical option is to get to Dali Old Town by airport shuttle bus first and then take bus line C2 to Caicun Wharf or take a taxi to Longkan Wharf and Panxi S-Bend. It costs CNY 30 – 55/USD 4 – 8 and takes about 1.5 – 2 hours.
• From train station:Taking a bus requires several transfers, so most travelers prefer taxi or ride-hailing car. For a single trip, the cost and travel time are about CNY 30 – 45/USD 4 – 7 and 20 – 40 minutes, respectively.
• FromDali Old Town: Bus line C2 and C7 can take you to Caicun Wharf and Panxi S Bend respectively. The fare is CNY 2 and the ride takes 20 – 30 minutes. If you plan to get to Longkan Wharf, take a taxi directly, which costs about CNY 15 – 20/USD 2 – 3. A taxi ride to Caicun Wharf and Panxi S Bend is about CNY 20 – 30/USD 3 – 4.

Get to Cangshan Mountain

For a Cangshan Mountain trip, Zhonghe Cableway Station, Gantong Cableway Station and Ximatan Cableway Station are the common starting points.

• From airport:Direct shuttle bus transport to Gantong Cableway Station with a cost of CNY 30/USD 4 and a travel time of 60 minutes. You can also take a taxi or online ride-hailing to any cableway station, which takes about 40 minutes and costs CNY 80 – 100/USD 12 – 15.
• From train station: Without a tourist bus, the taxi and online ride-hailing have been the most convenient way. Typically, the cost for a single trip is CNY 30 – 40/USD 4 – 6 and the travel time is about 30 minutes.
• From Dali Old Town: At Dali Old Town Tourist Center, there are direct buses to each cableway station. The ticket price ranges from CNY 5 – 10/USD 1 for a single trip and the travel time varies from 10 – 20 minutes. As for taxi or online ride-hailing, the price is relatively higher, about CNY 15 – 20/USD 2 – 3.

Dali Transportation to Nearby Cities

Yunnan is a large province with plenty of things to do. Different parts of the province offer a variety of natural and cultural landscapes. For the best Yunnan tour, it’s recommended that you extend your visit to other cities in the province for a more comprehensive experience. Generally, high-speed train is the first choice for most travelers because of its high efficiency and comfortable experience.

To Kunming

Kunming is the capital city and gateway of Yunnan, about 330 km (205 miles) from Dali.  Thanks to its mild climate and serene landscapes, it’s known as the “Spring City”. Dianchi Lake and Stone Forest offer completely different landscapes that are a feast for the eyes.

How to get there:

1. By high-speed train:most recommended, about 80 departures daily from 11:30 – 22:30, about 2 – 2.5 hours, from Dali Railway Station to Kunming Railway Station or Kunming South Railway Station, CNY 120 – 155/USD 18 – 23 for a second-class seat.
2. By long-distance bus:5 – 6 hours, CNY 55 – 70/USD 8 – 10, cost-effective. It is technically possible, but less convenient than train due to the long travel time and possible traffic jams.

To Lijiang

Located about 180 km from Dali, Lijiang is another hot tourism city in Yunnan. It is most famous for the hiking scene at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge. There’re also historical ancient towns and Naxi ethnic culture. It is about 190 km (118 miles) from Dali city.

How to get there:

1. By train:6 high-speed trains and 3 normal trains daily from 07:45 to 19:00, about 2 – 5 hours for high-speed train and 2.5 – 4.5 hours for normal trains, from Dali Railway Station to Lijiang Railway Station, CNY 50 – 80/USD 7 – 12 for a second-class seat and CNY 23.5/USD 3 for a hard seat.
2. By long-distance bus: 5 – 3.5 hours, CNY 40 – 80/USD 6 – 12, from Dali North Passenger Station to Lijiang Passenger Station. Another popular option is the direct bus between Dali Old Town and Lijiang Old Town, which costs CNY 40 – 55/USD 6 – 8 with a travel time of 3.5 – 4 hours. You can make a reservation via the Didi Chuxing App or mini-program.

To Shangri-La

Its distance to Dali is about 300 km (186 miles). The breathtaking views of gave it the title of “paradise on earth”. It is one of the best places for hiking in China and even the world with many snow-covered mountains, alpine lakes, and hidden mountain villages. You will also discover rich Tibetan culture and religion.

 

How to get there:

By train: most recommended, 2 departures daily at 07:45 and 11:47, about 3.5 – 4 hours, from Dali Railway Station to Shangri-La Railway Station, CNY 143 – 150/USD 21 – 22 for a second-class seat

How to Plan a Dali Trip

2 – 4 days are enough to explore Dali. While 3 days is an ideal period to cover the highlights and experience the laid-back lifestyle. The following recommended itinerary includes not only the major attractions, but also a unique tie-dyeing experience to enrich your trip.

Day 1: Dali Old Town

Day 2: Cangshan Mountain – Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple – Erhai Lake

Day 3: Xizhou Ancient Town – experience tie-dyeing in Zhoucheng Village

Enjoy a Healing Dali Tour with China Xian Tour

The beautiful Erhai Lake and Cangshan Mountain attract many tourists to travel in Dali. Besides, the leisurely life pace here can relieve your fatigue and cure your heart. It is suitable for everyone who wants to escape from the urban bustle and hustle.

If you want to enjoy more travel experiences in a hassle-free way, China Xian Tour can meet your demands. We can arrange the sightseeing way you like and add more cultural experiences like the famous tie-dying, so that you can feel the charm of Dali from more aspects. Our itinerary is tailored for you specially, so we can add your request based on your preferences. Just contact us right now.

FAQs about Dali Transportation

What is the difference between Dali Ancient Town and Xiaguan (the New City)?

Dali Ancient Town is the core tourism area, and Xiaguan New City is the place where local people live and work.

Is it necessary or advisable for foreigners to use a taxi or ride-hailing app like DiDi, or is the public bus system easy to navigate?

Foreign travelers are not familiar with the bus routes and stops, so it may be not easy for them to navigate. While the taxi or online hailing service will be more friendly.

How long does it take to cycle the entire Erhai Lake loop?

A non-stop loop tour will take about 3 – 4 hours. But most travelers will stop for sightseeing or rest, thus 8 – 9 hours is the most common duration for an entire loop.